FORT WORTH — In a rousing speech to thousands of delegates at the Texas Democratic Party Convention, Rep. Beto O'Rourke called for Democrats to "show up" for Texans that have been under siege from leaders who don't act in their best interests.

His expansive remarks touched on many progressive themes as he urged Democrats to fight for teachers, women, farmers, veterans, transgender residents and others.

"I want to make sure that we're talking everyone, every day in the state of Texas," O'Rourke said. "That everybody is treated with respect and dignity in the state of Texas, in the United States of America, everyone, everywhere, every single day. We show up in every county, in every community within every county ... we show up for everyone."

O'Rourke also lamented that America — under the administration of President Donald Trump — had separated migrant children from their families in the name of border security and called on the nation's leaders to do the right thing.

"We took those children from their mothers and from their fathers in put them in tent cities," O'Rourke said. "We separated them with no idea when or if they would be reunited.... We've stopped family separation. Now we're got to get those kids and those parents together."

O'Rourke, D-El Paso, is the underdog in a tough fight against incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. The Texas statewide electorate is dominated by Republicans, so O'Rourke needs a big turnout from his base and help from Republican voters in order to pull off the upset.

O'Rourke, with his relentless, unique campaign, has thrilled Democrats across the state. They hope he can beat Cruz and deliver the party its first statewide victory since 1994.

U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke is interviewed by reporters during the Texas Democratic Convention on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

A progressive approach

O'Rourke's mantra of showing up for Texas was aimed at numerous progressive issues.

"For the people who are looking for work but cannot find that job that pays a living wage [and] allows them to live with function, dignity and purpose in their lives, we need to show up and fight for them," O'Rourke said.

Education is also his priority.

"We need to show up for those teachers who are going to make sure that those kids have the skills, and that teachers look like those kids that they are teaching in those classrooms, and that they teach to those kids and not the standardized tests," O'Rourke said.

He also said, "We need to make sure we show up for those veterans who literally have borne the battle for this country."

And he said Texas needs to show up for Texas women and the gay, lesbian and transgender community.

"We believe in a women's right to choose and health care that will save her life," he said, adding that shutting down women's clinics has led to a maternal mortality crisis.

O'Rourke said that Texans needed to protect their children by not hurting the environment and curbing gun violence, to perhaps the loudest cheers during his speech.

He said of students working against gun violence: "They will make sure that we do not meet urgency of this moment with just more prayers and more thoughts, but that we make sure that everybody that buys a firearm in this state goes through a universal background check."

O'Rourke told delegates they were right on the issues, but must fight to bring about change.

"When we show up, nothing can stop us," he said.

Susie Leinneweber, center and her dog, King Louis, enter the arena during the Texas Democratic Convention on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth.

King Louis the dog wears political buttons with Susie Leinneweber during the Texas Democratic Convention on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

Susie Leinneweber, center and her dog, King Louis, enter the arena during the Texas Democratic Convention on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)